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Return of the reluctant landlord to rental market

There was variation across the UK in the number of agents reporting this trend, with 58 per cent of agents in the North East of England reporting an increase in reluctant landlords, compared to 15 per cent in central London.

The number of reluctant landlords peaked during the recession when at the beginning of 2009, some 94 per cent of agents surveyed reported an increase of property coming onto the rental market because it could not be sold.

Ian Potter, operations manager at ARLA, said: “The rise of the reluctant landlord seems to reflect wider market uncertainty and instability. There is a dearth in available property either to rent or buy, yet people are holding back from selling, perhaps strategically, to secure the best price; or more likely because they simply can’t find a suitable buyer.

“While we welcome new landlords to the market, this trend is not without risks. Letting a property can be full of potential hazards, especially for inexperienced landlords – from material issues, such as a tenant mistreating a property, to financial problems, such as landlord inability to meet mortgage payments. A qualified, licensed agent can help guide both landlord and tenant through the process, to ensure neither party is left out of pocket.”